I had a crazy idea last week, and I'm still trying to work out the logistics. Maybe sharing it with you guys is better than just surprising you with a finished product.
I recently bought some 8" diameter acrylic tubing, which has been standing in the garage for a couple of weeks. While looking at my son's 29g with the eels in it, I was thinking how cool it would be to make that tube an aquarium. If it was established horizontally on top of some wooden blocks (cut to the contour of the tubing) to support it every couple of feet, it could have sand spread out evenly along the 'bottom' of the tube tank. Then I could slide the eels in there, and let them swim back and forth.
Lighting could be ambient lighting from the room only, since the eels don't really need lights. I could use VHO or PCs perhaps, but would rather not. I picture this right behind the back of the sofa, but at the same time I don't want to see it in the reflection of the TV since then I can't see the broadcast, which is another reason not to use lights.
Running a sump underneath would let me hide the heater, return pump, and even some type of skimmer for filtration.
I like the idea of this tank because you can see the animals. I don't want to add rock for them to hide behind, but maybe I could put some small pieces along the bottom for them to hug.
I have no idea how to figure out the water volume in a round cylinder. I don't know if this isn't enough water or if it would be reasonably adequate. I'd like the tube to be full of water, with no air pocket at the top. I want to keep the livestock in the tube with eggcrate, but picture the need for a box at each end to drop in food, and deal with water entering and exiting. I'm thinking a cleaning magnet will allow me to keep it clean, but I'm not sure how to deal with any cleaning issues within the center of the tube, nor a way to move things around once it is set up.
Since this is theoretical now, I'm open to suggestions. Even if the reply is "No, it can't be done for these reasons..."
